Rope-less jump rope simulator and resistance exercise device

ABSTRACT

A rope-less jump rope and resistance exercise device includes a jump rope handle having a longitudinal length between a first and second end. A resistance handle is attached to the first end of the jump rope handle disposed substantially perpendicular to the jump rope handle. A single ball-and-socket assembly is attached between the second end of the jump rope handle and a receiver. An elongated lash includes a connector end and a free end, where the connector end is removably connectable with the receiver. The receiver includes a slotted aperture and a stop. An elongated and resiliently stretchable resistance member includes a pair of second connector ends, where either of the pair of second connector ends are removably connectable with the receiver. An identical pair of the jump rope handle, ball-and-socket assembly, receiver, lash and resistance member form the rope-less jump rope and resistance exercise device.

This disclosure is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 11/846,307, filedAug. 28, 2007, now Publication No. 2009/0062084. The contents of thepreviously filed application are incorporated herein in full by thisreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise devices. More particularly,the present invention relates to a rope-less jump rope simulator andresistance exercise device.

Generations of young people have enjoyed playing jump rope and manyathletes, such as boxers, has used jump ropes for aerobic exercise andphysical conditioning. Conventional jump ropes are typically constructedof a pair of handles interconnected by a rope, as seen in U.S. Pat. No.1,462, 088. The handles of these conventional jump ropes have beenconstructed of solid wood, plastic or the like with the ropemechanically connected thereto.

However, conventional jump ropes such as those described above, havecertain disadvantages. For example, the use of the conventional jumprope is limited by the fact that a user must actually jump over therope. This is not possible for a user who is not able to jump (e.g., aperson in a wheel chair, has a bad back, knees or the like) but whostill wishes to obtain the benefits derived from jumping rope. The useof a conventional jump rope can result in a user tripping over the ropeand falling to the ground and can cause a great deal of noise as it isbeing used. A conventional jump rope also requires a great deal of openspace and a relatively high ceiling as the rope must be able to clearthe user's head without contacting a ceiling surface.

Various attempts have been made to overcome the problems associated withconventional jump rope devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,746discloses an adjustable jump rope apparatus with an adjustable weightand length. However, this jump rope still suffers from the samedrawbacks as the conventional jump rope as there is still only a singlerope interconnecting the two handles and thus requiring a user to haveto jump over the rope in order to use the device. In another example,U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0002408 discloses a pair of virtualjump rope units. However, the ball bearing assembly inside the handle towhich the rope is attached provides only limited movement. In a furtherexample, U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0288158 discloses a ropelessjump rope. However, this device requires the use of electronics, a powersupply, a display and the like.

Accordingly, there is a need for a jump rope device which mimics thebenefits of a conventional jump rope without the drawbacks associatedwith the conventional jump rope. There is a further need for a jump ropedevice that eliminates the need for a user to jump in order to use thedevice. There is an additional need for a jump rope device that issimple and economical to manufacture. The present invention fulfillsthese needs and provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a rope-lessjump rope device where the handles are not connected by a rope or othermeans or elements. As illustrated herein, a receiver is attachedrelative to an end of a handle. An elongated lash includes a connectorend and a free end. The connector end is removably connectable with thereceiver. An identical pair of the handle, receiver and lash form therope-less jump rope device.

Furthermore, a single ball-and-socket assembly may be connected to andbetween the handle and the receiver. The ball-and-socket assembly mayinclude a cap and a ball, where the cap defines a socket which moveablycaptures the ball. The cap is connected to either the end of the handleor the receiver and the ball is connected to either the end of thehandle or the receiver whichever is not connected to the cap.

The device may include a mechanism for providing wind resistance andsoftening the impact of accidental strikes of the free end of the lash.The mechanism for providing wind resistance and softening the impact ofaccidental strikes of the free end of the lash may include a protectivepad. The protective pad may include a foam ball or may include agel-filled inner portion and a foam outer portion.

The handle may include a grip including a cover disposed over thehandle. The lash may include an extruded material or include a hollowtube.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes aresistance exercise device. A receiver is attached relative to an end ofa handle. An elongated and resiliently stretchable resistance memberincludes a pair of connector ends. Either of the pair of connector endsare removably connectable with the receiver. An identical pair of thehandle and receiver including at least one resistance member form theresistance exercise device.

Furthermore, a second handle may be attached relative to a second end ofthe handle opposite the receiver. The second handle may be disposedsubstantially perpendicular relative to the handle. The second handleincludes a flexible fabric loop connected to the second end of thehandle. The second handle may include a grip including a cover disposedover the fabric loop of the second handle.

The resistance member may include an elastic tube, band or spring. Also,a single ball-and-socket assembly may be connected to and between thehandle and the receiver. The ball-and-socket assembly includes a cap anda ball, where the cap defines a socket which moveably captures the ball.The cap is connected to either the end of the handle or the receiver andthe ball is connected to either the end of the handle or the receiverwhichever is not connected to the cap.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes arope-less jump rope and a resistance exercise device. A receiver isattached relative to an end of a handle. An elongated lash includes aconnector end and a free end. The connector end is removably connectablewith the receiver. An elongated and resiliently stretchable resistancemember includes a pair of second connector ends. Either of the pair ofsecond connector ends are removably connectable with the receiver. Anidentical pair of the handle, receiver and lash form the rope-less jumprope simulator and an identical pair of the handle and receiverincluding at least one resistance member form the resistance exercisedevice.

Furthermore, a second handle may be attached relative to a second end ofthe handle opposite the receiver. The second handle may be disposedsubstantially perpendicular relative to the handle.

A single ball-and-socket assembly may be connected to and between thehandle and the receiver. The ball-and-socket assembly may include a capand a ball, where the cap defines a socket which moveably captures theball. The cap may be connected to either the end of the handle or thereceiver and the ball is connected to either the end of the handle orthe receiver whichever is not connected to the cap.

The second handle may include a flexible fabric loop connected to thesecond end of the handle. The resistance member may include an elastictube, band or spring.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes arope-less jump rope and resistance exercise device. A jump rope handlehas a longitudinal length between a first and second end. A resistancehandle is attached to the first end of the jump rope handle and may bedisposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of thejump rope handle. A single ball-and-socket assembly has a proximal anddistal end, where the proximal end is attached to the second end of thejump rope handle. A receiver is attached to the distal end of theball-and-socket assembly. An elongated lash includes a connector end anda free end, where the connector end is removably connectable with thereceiver. An elongated and resiliently stretchable resistance memberincludes a pair of second connector ends, where either of the pair ofsecond connector ends are removably connectable with the receiver. Anidentical pair of the jump rope handle, ball-and-socket assembly,receiver and lash form the rope-less jump rope and an identical pair ofthe resistance handle, ball-and-socket assembly and receiver includingat least one resistance member form the resistance exercise device.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise device embodying the presentinvention utilizing an elongated lash;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1showing the connector end outside of the receiver;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 now showingthe connector end within the receiver;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing the connector endoutside of the receiver;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exercise device embodying the presentinvention now utilizing a resistance member;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a user utilizing the device of FIG. 1 as arope-less jump rope device; and

FIG. 7 is a front view of a user utilizing the device of FIG. 5 as aresistance exercise device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise device 10 embodying thepresent invention. An exemplary embodiment of the device 10 includes arope-less jump rope and a resistance exercise device. A person mayutilize the device 10 as either the rope-less jump rope or theresistance exercise device.

A receiver 12 is attached relative to an end 14 of a handle 16. Anelongated lash 18 includes a connector end 20 and a free end 22. Theconnector end 20 is removably connectable with the receiver 12, as isshown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The lash 18 comes in various forms including,but not limited to a flexible, resilient hollow tube, a solid extrudedmaterial, a solid molded material, a line, a rod, a rope, a cord, astrip, a chain, a braid or the like. The lash 18 made be made of variousmaterials including, but not limited to a natural material, a syntheticmaterial (e.g., PVC, plastic or the like), and combinations thereof. Thelength and thickness of the lash 18 may vary but the lash 18 ispreferably about fifteen inches long. The device 10 also serves as afree weight and can come in various weights including, but not limitedto, a half pound, one pound, two pounds, two and a half pounds or thelike.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1showing the connector end 20 outside of the receiver 12. FIG. 3 is asectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 now showing the connectorend 20 within the receiver 12. The receiver 12 has a slotted aperture 28such that the connector end 20 and part of the lash 18 can fit within.The receiver 12 has an abutment/stop 30 that prevents the lash 18 andconnector end 20 from sliding apart. The only way to remove theconnector end 20 from the receiver 12 is out through the slottedaperture 28.

An elongated and resiliently stretchable resistance member 24 includes apair of second connector ends 26, as is best shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 4 isa perspective view of the device 10 similar to FIG. 1 showing theconnector end 20 outside of the receiver 12 and forming a part of therope-less jump rope device while FIG. 5 is a perspective view of thedevice 10 utilizing a resistance member 24 forming a part of theresistance exercise device. Either of the pair of second connector ends26 are removably connectable with the receiver 12 similar to theconnector ends 20. It is advantageous that both connector ends 20 and 26are similar such that they both engage with the receiver 12 in the sameway. As can be seen by one skilled in the art, there are a multitude ofways to connect the lash 18 and resistance member 24 to the handle 16,and this disclosure does not limit it to the precise form disclosed andshown herein.

An identical pair of the handle 16, receiver 12 and lash 18 form therope-less jump rope simulator. The rope-less jump rope device is wherethe handles are not connected by a rope or other means or elements. Aperson is then able to simulate the action of jump roping as is shown inFIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a front view of a person utilizing the device of FIG.1 as the rope-less jump rope device.

Alternatively, an identical pair of the handle 16 and receiver 12including at least one resistance member 24 form the resistance exercisedevice. A person is then able to pull on the handles of the device 10and create a resistance force for exercise as is shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7is a front view of a person utilizing the device 10 of FIG. 5 as aresistance exercise device.

In an exemplary embodiment, a single ball-and-socket assembly 32 may beconnected to and between the handle 16 and the receiver 12. This is bestshown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The ball-and-socket assembly 32 may include acap 34 and a ball 36, where the cap 34 defines a socket 38 whichmoveably captures the ball 36. The cap 34 is connected to either the endof the handle 16 or the receiver 12 and the ball 36 is connected toeither the end of the handle 16 or the receiver 12 whichever is notconnected to the cap 34. The ball-and-socket assembly 32 provides rotaryand angular movement of the lash 18 relative to the handle 16 in alldirections.

The device 10 may include a mechanism for providing wind resistance andsoftening the impact of accidental strikes of the free end 22 of thelash 18. The mechanism for providing wind resistance and softening theimpact of accidental strikes of the free end 22 of the lash 18 mayinclude a protective pad 40. The protective pad 40 may include a foamball or may include a gel-filled inner portion and a foam outer portion,as previously disclosed in of Ser. No. 11/846,307. For instance, theprotective pad 40 may come in various forms including, but not limitedto, a compressible foam pad, a pad having a relatively dense gelmaterial-filled inner portion and a compressible foam material outerportion, or the like. The pad 40 may come in various shapes including,but not limited to a ball, a cylinder, a tear or the like. The thicknessof the protective pad 40 can vary from a minimal thickness of eighths ofan inch to several inches (e.g. 2-4 inches). For example, the protectivepad 40 can in the form of a ball having a roughly three inch diameter.In the alternative, the pad 40 may be removably or permanently attachedto the end of the lash 18 without being disposed about the end of thelash 14. Both removably and permanently attachable pads 40 can come invarious shapes and sizes.

The handle 16 may include a grip 42 including a cover 42 disposed overthe handle 16. The grip 42 may be made of various materials including,but not limited to, foam, plastic, polyurethane or the like. The lash 18may include an extruded material or include a hollow tube.

Referring now to the device 10 as a resistance exercise device, a secondhandle 44 may be attached relative to a second end 46 of the handle 16opposite the receiver 12. The second handle 44 may be disposedsubstantially perpendicular relative to the handle 16. The second handle44 includes a flexible fabric loop 48 connected to the second end 46 ofthe handle 16. The second handle 44 may include a grip 50 including acover 50 disposed over the fabric loop 48 of the second handle 44. Theresistance member 24 may include an elastic tube 24, band 24 or spring24.

The second handle 46 may be easier to utilize by a person for performingresistance exercises, as is best shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a personholding the second handles 44 and raising their arms upward working theshoulder muscle group. Allowing a person to choose between the handle 16and second handle 44 facilitates a wide range of creative uses of theresistance exercise device 10.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention areillustrative only and not limiting. It will thus be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from this invention in its broader aspects. Allfeatures of the various embodiments discussed above and from the Ser.No. 11/846,307 can be mixed and matched to define an embodiment that isnot directly illustrated in the accompanying figures. Therefore, theappended claims encompass all such changes and modifications as fallingwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

1. A rope-less jump rope device, comprising: a handle; a receiverassociated with an end of the handle, the receiver including a slottedaperture and a stop; an elongated lash including a connector end and afree end, wherein the connector end is removably connectable with thereceiver through the slotted aperture abutting the stop, such that thelash and receiver are connected when in use and later separable; andwherein an identical pair of the handle, receiver and lash form therope-less jump rope device.
 2. The device of claim 1, including a singleball-and-socket assembly connecting to and between the handle and thereceiver.
 3. The device of claim 2, including a mechanism for providingwind resistance and softening the impact of accidental strikes of thefree end of the lash.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the mechanismfor providing wind resistance and softening the impact of accidentalstrikes of the free end of the lash comprises a protective pad.
 5. Thedevice of claim 4, wherein the protective pad comprises a foam ball. 6.The device of claim 4, wherein the protective pad comprises a gel-filledinner portion and a foam outer portion.
 7. The device of claim 1,wherein the handle includes a grip comprising a cover disposed over thehandle.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the lash comprises an extrudedmaterial.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the lash comprises a hollowtube.
 10. The device of claim 2, wherein the ball-and-socket assemblycomprises a cap and a ball, where the cap defines a socket whichmoveably captures the ball, and where the cap is connected to either theend of the handle or the receiver and the ball is connected to eitherthe end of the handle or the receiver whichever is not connected to thecap.
 11. A resistance exercise device, comprising: a handle; a receiverassociated with an end of the handle, the receiver including a slottedaperture and a stop; an elongated and resiliently stretchable resistancemember including a pair of connector ends, wherein either of the pair ofconnector ends are removably connectable with the receiver through theslotted aperture abutting the stop, such that the resistance member andreceiver are connected when in use and later separable; and wherein anidentical pair of the handle and receiver including at least oneresistance member form the resistance exercise device.
 12. The device ofclaim 11, including a second handle attached relative to a second end ofthe handle opposite the receiver, where the second handle is disposedsubstantially perpendicular relative to the handle.
 13. The device ofclaim 12, wherein the second handle comprises a flexible fabric loopconnected to the second end of the handle.
 14. The device of claim 13,wherein the second handle includes a grip comprising a cover disposedover the fabric loop of the second handle.
 15. The device of claim 11,wherein the resistance member comprises an elastic tube, band or spring.16. The device of claim 11, including a single ball-and-socket assemblyconnecting to and between the handle and the receiver.
 17. The device ofclaim 16, wherein the ball-and-socket assembly comprises a cap and aball, where the cap defines a socket which moveably captures the ball,and where the cap is connected to either the end of the handle or thereceiver and the ball is connected to either the end of the handle orthe receiver whichever is not connected to the cap.
 18. A rope-less jumprope and resistance exercise device, comprising: a handle; a receiverattached relative to an end of the handle, the receiver including aslotted aperture and a stop; an elongated lash including a connector endand a free end, wherein the connector end is removably connectable withthe receiver through the slotted aperture abutting the stop, such thatthe lash and receiver are connected when in use and later separable; andan elongated and resiliently stretchable resistance member including apair of second connector ends, where either of the pair of secondconnector ends are removably connectable with the receiver through theslotted aperture abutting the stop, such that the resistance member andreceiver are connected when in use and later separable; where anidentical pair of the handle, receiver and lash form the rope-less jumprope simulator, and where an identical pair of the handle and receiverincluding at least one resistance member form the resistance exercisedevice.
 19. The device of claim 18, including a second handle attachedrelative to a second end of the handle opposite the receiver, where thesecond handle is disposed substantially perpendicular relative to thehandle.
 20. The device of claim 19, including a single ball-and-socketassembly connecting to and between the handle and the receiver.
 21. Thedevice of claim 20, wherein the ball-and-socket assembly comprises a capand a ball, where the cap defines a socket which moveably captures theball, and where the cap is connected to either the end of the handle orthe receiver and the ball is connected to either the end of the handleor the receiver whichever is not connected to the cap.
 22. The device ofclaim 21, wherein the second handle comprises a flexible fabric loopconnected to the second end of the handle.
 23. The device of claim 22,wherein the resistance member comprises an elastic tube, band or spring.24. A rope-less jump rope and resistance exercise device, comprising: ajump rope handle having a longitudinal length between a first and secondend; a resistance handle attached to the first end of the jump ropehandle disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal lengthof the jump rope handle; a single ball-and-socket assembly having aproximal and distal end, where the proximal end is attached to thesecond end of the jump rope handle; a receiver attached to the distalend of the ball-and-socket assembly, the receiver including a slottedaperture and a stop; an elongated lash including a connector end and afree end, where the connector end is removably connectable with thereceiver through the slotted aperture abutting the stop; an elongatedand resiliently stretchable resistance member including a pair of secondconnector ends, where either of the pair of second connector ends areremovably connectable with the receiver through the slotted apertureabutting the stop; and wherein an identical pair of the jump ropehandle, ball-and-socket assembly, receiver and lash form the rope-lessjump rope simulator, and where an identical pair of the resistancehandle, ball-and-socket assembly and receiver including at least oneresistance member form the resistance exercise device.